The Grand Canyon

While the Grand Canyon is a literal setting in the book, it also takes on great symbolic value, as the Grand Canyon is a hotly contested political battleground between nature conservationists and impending modernity. Even between the different tribes of natives, the Grand Canyon takes on dramatically different symbolic meanings. For instance, for Denny Duke, of the small Báyóodzin tribe, the Grand Canyton is the place where several ancestral spirits dwell, and should not be disturbed. For Aza Palmer, a member of the Navajo tribe, the debate about the Grand Canyon is more philosophical than this emotional religious tale.

Mountain lion

In an unlikely turn of events, Bernie gently sings a song of ancient significance to a mountain lion while she is in the foggy Grand Canyon, and the mountain lion peacefully walks away from her. Just a few minutes later, a...